WINAI ''JJ'' Naiman, the jet-ski proprietor accused of ripping off US and British marines, was among the audiience this afternoon when Phuket's jet-ski operators met in Patong. He was filmed in a yellow shirt and was in a yellow shirt when he was arrested. But today, he wore white.


TALKS are underway among Phuket jet-ski operators to change their methods and eliminate scams from their businesses.

Insurance is not possible because under Thai law, the jet-skis are for sport only and cannot be rented to others, the president of the Bang Tao Jet-Ski Association, Anusorn Sale, told Phuketwan today.

The operators were given a week by the Governor, Wichai Praisa-nob, to reach their own agreement on how to operate legitimately and to put suggestions to him.

Key players and authorities met last week after the full extent of the jet-ski crisis was exposed by a television documentary and internet footage. They will reconvene on Friday to assess what happens next.

Khun Anusorn said the Bang Tao beach model, where scams had never been a problem, should also be applied in Patong, where operators were frequently accused of scams.

''I don't understand how Patong lets this happen,'' he said. ''We have had jet-skis in Bang Tao for 10 years and never had this kind of confrontation.''

Patong jet-ski owner Winai ''JJ'' Naiman was arrested and held for three nights at Patong's Kathu jail after being seen on the British television series 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand.'

He demanded a large sum for ''damage'' allegedly caused by a British marine, then was shown in footage posted on the internet taking a similar sum for ''damage'' from an American marine just days later.

Locals in Patong say ''JJ'' figures regularly in disputes of this kind with tourists on Phuket.

He has since claimed on television in Thailand that he was set up, a charge the producer of the series vigorously denies. ''JJ'' signed a release document enabling his performance to be shown.

''These scams are a bad thing for us and for tourism,'' Khun Anusorn told Phuketwan today, ''not just for Phuket but for Thailand.''

If there is a mishap, jet-ski riders from Bang Tao are asked to pay 300 baht per square inch of damage. For damage of 10 square inches or more, the set amount is 200 baht per square inch, he said.

A jet-ski has a replacement value of 300,000 baht, he said.

''JJ'' told a television audience this week that if he was not able to use his jet-ski while it was repaired, he would also demand 5000 baht a day for the period it was out of action.

Assuming that the jet-ski is in use every day, that puts a value of 150,000 baht on ''JJ's'' earnings each month. His tax bill must be high.

Extortion? ''JJ'' told the television interviewer that the 44,000 baht he demanded from the British marine was only fair because the jet-ski could have been out of action for as many as four days.

The minimum wage in Phuket rose recently to 206 baht a day. That's 6180 baht a month. Clearly, ''JJ'' places an extremely high value on his time and his jet-ski.

Governor Wichai, who wants to see corruption stamped out on the island, has been in Bangkok but is expected to return to Phuket in time for Friday's meeting.

It's likely that visitors' passports will no longer be taken as collateral for jet-ski hire.

The going rate is 1500 baht for 30 minutes on a jet-ski but it's a business that really only flourishes in Phuket's November-April high season.

Safety factors, pollution and the large number of unregistered operators have also proved to be a concern.

One suggestion is that a pontoon should be set up 500 metres or more offshore in Patong Bay. Would-be jet-ski riders could be ferried to the pontoon and rides given to the first jet-ski in a rank of waiting jet-skis.


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